The Origins of Music: Preface - Preface

instrument can be closed with the hand or fingers,and thus at least two

different tones can be produced.The upper and lower ends are deter-

mined in relation to the method of blowing into it:the upper end is the

part that features the cut edge,the part we blow into.In the anatomic

sense,the terms proximal and distal are used.We can say from experi-

ments that it is easier to stimulate sound in the manner of panpipes with

a closed pipe than an open one.(A closed flute is understood as having

a closed lower end and an open flute as having the lower end open).With

holes in the pipe,one can theoretically produce even more different

tones,although playing such a flute (playing on a clef) is fairly difficult

and demanding and,at least judging from our experiments,does not give

greater sound possibilities (the function of the holes may thus become

questionable).

We obtained completely different results if we rested the bone against

the mouth lengthwise and slightly obliquely,and blew on the edge as with

a rim-blown flute (figure 15.8).The sound was clear and pure,and with

the aid of the holes and closing the lower end of the instrument,we could

obtain tones of various pitch and even succeeded in overblowing to

produce overtones.We could blow on the proximal or distal part,and

253 New Perspectives on the Beginnings of Music

Figure 15.6

Photograph of the distal part of the bone in reconstructions of the bone flute from (a) fossil

bone of an extinct cave bear,(b) fresh bone of a modern brown bear,(c) plaster,and (d)

metal.

Fig.15.6(a) Fig.15.6(b)

Fig.15.6(c) Fig.15.6(d)

a b

c d